Monday, December 17, 2012

Microbrews made in the USA and guide to American beers

I love good beer! Great beers are made all around the world. Certain styles of beer from Germany, Belgium, Ireland are world renowned for being the original of it's class. Whether it's an English ale, Guinness, Belgian Dubbel, Hacker-Pschoor, Heineken, or another great imported beer you can bet there is a craft brewery in America making a comparable beer. Sure the imports taste great, and maybe they originated the style, but decrease your carbon footprint and keep your money at home!

Here in Philadelphia I've found some great microbreweries near me, and no matter where you are in the US you can find a great craft brewer producing excellent beer near you. My favorite breweries within 100 miles of Philadelphia are Dogfish Head, Flying Fish, Yards, Philadelphia Brewing Company, Weyerbacher, and Flying Dog. These breweries combine to employ hundreds of Americans, and with the millions of dollars in sales, they also generate a nice chunk of tax revenue for the American government. Of course, you'll have your own favorites based on where you live, and maybe my local beers don't reach you. Please seek out the American Microbrewed beers that are made in your area. By reducing the transportation distance of your beer you'll be helping the environment while helping to employ Americans!

Below is a list of some great import beers and a similar American microbrew you should purchase instead. If you click the import beer name you will be directed to a list on Beer Advocate of the best beers in that class in order, make sure you choose American!

Did you know? While very well known "American" breweries like Miller, Coors, and Bud are produced in the USA it is important to note that they are now all owned by foreign companies. Coors is Canadian, Miller is UK owned, Anheuser-Busch is Belgian. Drinking these beers helps keeps Americans manufacturing beer, but some of the tax revenue leaves America.

The following is a list of the largest microbreweries (also support the small ones!) in America from Sloshspot.